Karl LinellB次元官网网址檚 connection to All Sooke Day spans the decades from its halcyon heights to the final last hurrah.

B次元官网网址淢y parents were quite involved for many years,B次元官网网址� said Linell, whose memories date back to attending as a child in the 1950s.

Linell also recalls the sense of volunteering that personified the event by sharing stories of how he helped park cars at the event in his teens. B次元官网网址淢y dad wore many hats for the event, as did all the volunteers. My mom was secretary and looked after Sooke Community Hall.B次元官网网址�

Linell got involved with the Sooke Community Association board, the volunteer organization that puts on the annual event every year in the 1990s.

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B次元官网网址淎ll Sooke Day started going downhill in the late 1980s,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭here were more and more events going on, like the Nanaimo bathtub race and the air show in Sidney. Everything seemed to be happening on the same weekend and took away a lot of people from our event.B次元官网网址�

Organizers couldnB次元官网网址檛 change the date for All Sooke Day because it would have meant losing two logging competitions that couldnB次元官网网址檛 change dates because of international scheduling commitments.

B次元官网网址淚t was a big attraction, but it cost a lot to put on,B次元官网网址� Linell said. B次元官网网址淲ith the number of events going on that weekend, sponsors had to pick and choose where they went. We started losing a few sponsors, and that didnB次元官网网址檛 help.B次元官网网址�

Another factor that came into play in the 1990s was the publicB次元官网网址檚 perception of logging in general.

B次元官网网址淭he logging industry was being hit very hard, and anything to do with logging was a big turnoff for many people. The logging competitions had been our big draw, and the sponsorship from the logging companies was a big source of our funding,B次元官网网址� Linell said.

Another major blow was delivered when the health department shut down the sale of the enormously popular beef sold at concessions because of how it had always been prepared.

Wrapped in canvas, large slabs of seasoned beef were soaked overnight in the Sooke River. This traditional method prevents the fat from catching fire when cooked later on a bed of coals. Cooking of the meat began early in the morning. It was repeatedly turned and buried under the coals throughout the cooking process for a flavour that locals still rave about.

The health board crackdown eventually extended to how the salmon was prepared as well, a part of the food preparation that Linell played a major role in for years.

B次元官网网址淲e did it on an open fire on metal racks, and they (the health board) didnB次元官网网址檛 like how long it took to get it from the racks to be de-boned and portioned to serve,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that one fish was often big enough to serve 30 people.

B次元官网网址淭hey followed me around with a thermometer,B次元官网网址� Linell recalled with a sad shrug and slow shake of his head. B次元官网网址淭hey said it took too long, and they were always on us. How the salmon and beef were prepared was a big attraction and a huge source of our fundraising for the event.B次元官网网址�

Dwindling crowds, rising expenses, the changing perception of logging, and competition from other events all conspired to push All Sooke day to extinction after the last one was held in 2002.

UP NEXT: Will All Sooke Day rise from the dead?

editor@sookenewsmirror.com
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